Dimensions of a New Identity (Paper)

In the first lecture entitled The Founders: Jeffersonion Action and Faith Erikson uses selected themes from Jeffersons life to illustrate some principles of psychohistory. In the second lecture The Inheritors: Modern Insight and Foresight Erikson applied his main concepts to the problems of ongoing history. The title of the lectures contains one such concept. New identity is the result of radical historical change and is here meant to characterize the emerging American identity as first embodied in such men as Jefferson. Erikson first explores certain themes in his examination of the emerging American identity during Jeffersons time. He then attempts to relate the Jeffersonian themes to contemporary problems of repression and suppression of moralistic vindication and true liberation by insight. Finally Erikson maintains that now that children will be born by the privileged choice of parental persons an adult environment fitting the living and the to-be-living becomes an ethical necessity. There is no question that this work ranks among Eriksons most challenging and seminal books.